Improving the Environment: Jenna Jambeck

UGA environmental engineer Jenna Jambeck was the first to systematically calculate the amount of plastic waste that makes its way into the ocean from solid waste on land: Eight million metric tons – the equivalent of five grocery bags full of plastic on every foot of coastline in 192 countries. Her study, published in Science, is a first step in designing solutions to stop the flow of plastic into the ocean.

“By changing the way we think about waste, valuing the management of it, collecting, capturing and containing it, we can open up new jobs and opportunities for economic innovation, and in addition, improve the living conditions and health for millions of people around the world and protect our oceans,” said Jambeck.